Best family-friendly beaches in Busselton, Dunsborough and Yallingup

Margaret River region's top beaches for kids of all ages

Busselton is blessed with beautiful family-friendly beaches that will eat up hours of your holiday stay. The Margaret River region is well-known and loved for its surf culture and its balmy summer weather, so what better place to be than the beach?

No holiday to Busselton would be complete without a day basking in the sun and swimming in the cool Indian Ocean. In this post, we've compiled a list of the top family-friendly beaches near Busselton, Dunsborough and Yallingup that the whole family is sure to fall in love with.

Best beaches for families with young children

Busselton

What’s not to love about Busselton beach? Walk out of your tent or villa, walk 150 metres and you’re at the beach. It’s relatively shallow which makes it perfect for pre-schoolers, with fine sand and crystal-clear water. Look out for dolphins swimming by, and the occasional friendly ray.

This is a dog friendly beach, all year round. It stretches from Dolphin Road in the West to the Margaret Street Beach Access Carpark in the east. See map.

Dunsborough Foreshore

The township of Dunsborough is a 15 minute drive away. Its foreshore has everything families with young kids need for a perfect day at the beach: shady, grassed areas; long stretches of fine sand; shallow, clear waters; barbecues and picnic tables; toilets nearby, and it's close to the town centre. For older kids and adults, it's the perfect place to try kayaking or stand-up paddling (SUP) too. Rentals are available at South West Water Sports.

Bunker Bay (above)

One of the most sublime bays near Yallingup is Bunker Bay, which is located up near Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. The sheltered bay boasts crystal clear water in hues of blue and turquoise with a light, lapping surf. Start the day with a waffle breakfast at Bunkers Beach House overlooking the beach then settle in for a relaxing morning in the sand.

Yallingup Beach (above)

The main beach at the village of Yallingup is, of course, Yallingup Beach. There’s a natural lagoon, circled by reef, so the waves inside the lagoon are small making it perfect for young kids. Here, you'll see lots of surfers riding the waves of Yallingup Reef as onlookers sit on the sandy shore under colourful umbrellas. If the sun gets too much for the little ones, there's a kids' play area complete with fabricated wave to hang-ten without getting wet feet.

There’s a dog beach at the northern part of Yallingup Beach, north of the Dawson Drive entry.

Best beaches for families with teens

Smiths Beach

Yallingup is a surfing town, there's no doubt about it. Smiths Beach is a long flat beach with a reef break that offers short, sweet rides. Smiths is a popular spot for surfers and beach bums alike but for teens who are keen to give surfing a go, Yallingup Surf School offers lessons for beginners and novices. If you have a bit of experience, the southern end of the beach is good for beginner surfers. Stay south of the creek for safer swimming conditions.

Injidup Beach (above)

Free from the masses is Injidup Beach, another awesome spot for playing in the waves on a surf or body board. Aside from top surf, it also has a steep sand dune at the south end of the beach that will keep older kids entertained for hours. Play for the day and stay for the sunset, you won't be disappointed.

Note: These beaches have rips and strong undertows. Remain cautious and vigilant in the water.

Best beach for the whole family

Meelup Beach

Just past Dunsborough townsite, towards Eagle Bay, is Meelup Beach, a secluded bay that is gorgeous, practical and fun for the whole family. Bring a beach umbrella, a picnic lunch and get amongst the summertime goodness as families from all around flock here during the holidays. Meelup Beach Hire and SUP School has heaps of beach toys and accessories for hire, including kids SUP boards and snorkel masks.

Busselton Foreshore (above)

If you're looking for a lively family-friendly summer holiday atmosphere, head straight to the Busselton Foreshore, at the jetty. From November – April, this stretch of Geographe coastline is the hub of family fun in the Margaret River region. During the summertime school holidays, there are many water activities on offer including see-through kayaks, pedal boats with slide, SUP boards, jetty jumping, swimming, fishing and an inflatable water-park from the folk at Aquatastic. There are restaurants, an epic skatepark, the Busselton Surf Life Saving Club, an ice cream kiosk, fishing opportunities and of course, the famous, 1.8 kilometre wooden jetty complete with a train that will take you to the Underwater Observatory. There's a day and half of fun to be had at this beach that the whole family will love.

Family Friendly Busselton Accommodation

We've got affordable holiday accommodation the whole family will love at Beachlands. From shaded camp sites to Deluxe Villas or Jacuzzi Bungalows that sleep 6 people, we've got you covered. We have free cot and highchair hire, and activities the kids will love. Best of all, you can enjoy all our great facilities including a heated pool with toddler section, water play zone, brand new playground and jumping pillow. All this and more, just 150 metres from Busselton beach.